Year: 2012

I will start this post out with a bit of history. Well the history of how this adventure for me came about. First off it is not a road trip or photo story but one of food. Pezole (Pozole (Nahuatl: pozolli [po’sol?i]), which means “foamy”; variant spellings: pozolé, pozolli,or more commonly in the U.S. – posole) to be exact.

Our close friends (Mike and Michelle) daughter married a nice guy originally from Mexico and through the years we have enjoyed invitations to many traditional celebrations. Our chosen family is definitely multicultural! I have learned to make lumpia, salsa, fish sauce, pineapple tacos, spaghetti sauces . … the list is long. The thing is no one ever shares a written recipe. I love this as I am not a recipe follower but a taster. When I cook it tends to be one of those open the fridge, see what is in there, and come up with something that sounds good types. It is a dash of this and a bit of that type thing. My maternal grandparents came from Kansas so I cook dishes that I watched them make. My paternal grandmother was raised on a farm in Oregon. Her cooking was basic standard fair using typical produce found on a farm. My mother is a recipe follower and a a good baker. I don’t bake much it is just not my “thing’ and KRP is a great baker.

This time of the year at every party or meal I have attended Pezole was served. I love pezole. I was craving Pezole the other night so I started calling around to find out how it was made. Well, for as many people as I asked I have a version of how to make Pezole. Michelle offered to have me come over after the New Year and we could make a pot together. I don’t wanna wait till then so I have decided to make my own version of red chicken pezole. An internet search produced so many variations it was mind boggling. I am going to combine what I remember from all the various versions and come up with my own version. This may or may not bode well for the end product.

One of the interesting things I did learn was the history behind Pezole. And yes, there are lots of version of this also out there! So this is my best interpretation of the history of pezole.

Pezole is a pre-Columbian soup made for special occasions. The stories all have a theme that is rather well yucky. When the priest’s showed up and discovered that one of the ingredients to this special soup was human flesh from sacrificial rituals. Once it was established that using human flesh was a no- no pork was substituted. One story version has it that pork was used because it tasted closest to the original ingredient . Ok I did say this was yucky right? Another one of the ingredients is Hominy. Corn prepared using the process of nixtamalization a big word for soaking corn in an alkali solution.

I am going to use chicken and ancho peppers in mine. I am leaving out the guajillo, pasilla because I have not clue as to the flavors the produce.

The first problem I encountered was my lack of a good stock pot – well any real stock pot for that matter. I could borrow my moms but yikes I looked up its cost and if I messed it up I would have to sell something to cover the replacement costs. A stock pot is not just a stock pot anymore LOL. I emptied my piggy bank and decided to purchase a new stock pot. Not just for the pezole as we did need a replacement for one that died a few years back and got tossed out. So here is a cell phone pic of my present to myself. I really should feel guilty for buying this but since my family and most of our friends decided on a present free Christmas this year . … and I am saving a whole tank of gas expense because we are on school break . … rationalization at its best:

Next I hope to get some photos of the process for now I will leave you with this made in America chicken the only fowl I eat:

Took a drive out to the wildlife refuge yesterday. The seasonal changes are becoming more obvious. More water, leaf bare trees, etc. .

Most of the birds were just out my lens range to get a clear picture. The only birds up close and personal were the coots. Coots around here plentiful and it is very common to hear photographers and bird watchers say there is nothing here but the coots to let each other know that there are no interesting birds about. (I actually find the coots fun to watch.) I spent most of my time just watching and listening. It is the first time in a long time that I have managed to get myself out there. The sun was shining (yeah) and there wind was not too bad, although a bit chilly. After about an hour and a half the clouds came and the sky became grey. Brrr . . .. so I headed back home before I froze what little arse I have off.

On the way back I found this scene interesting – different birds one without feathers:

Driving down the road I spotted a hawk atop the telephone line. I pulled the truck over and the bird flew off and landed a few poles down along the side of the roadway. I drove forward and as soon as I rolled down my passenger window the bird flew away again LOL. You thing I would have this down by now eh? I left the window down and slowly crept forward past where the hawk had landed figuring that each time he flew he landed ahead of me. This time it worked. Even with the vibration of the running truck and shooting at an odd angel out the passenger window I managed to an ok set of it landing.

I left the photos untouched except the second one – I bumped up the brightness a tad so you might see the the hawks colorful plumage more as I did in person.

So, it is October 1st and the weather folks are telling us that it will bit over 100 today. Some heat records were broken around Calif and hopefully we will go back to the mid to upper 80’s by the end of the week. Last time we had these higher temps in Sept. was in 1973.

Yesterday we had temps around 99 – 100 depending on what monitoring station readings you read. Seriously, I am really, really tired of the heat. Usually by this time of the year I expect a few cooler days to get out and about . … the cranes have arrived and it is still way to hot to go take a look at them. I still turn off the computer up here because the room temps hit over 85 and well that is just to hot really to take the chance of an electronic meltdown.

I have been dealing with a stupid ear infection for a month now. I unfortunately was seen by a ENT that was one of those docs that do not listen. Thank goodness when KRP called back the other morning to get yet another appointment and request a new doc (not always easy when they are a specialist) we found out that the doc is no longer there – can you say YIPPEE!!! The new doc was very nice and he listened and explained in terms even I could comprehend LOL. Another round of antibiotics – bleh. I have to time this set out. I take thyroid meds that you have to not eat so many hours before and after and this new med is to be taken four times a day with food. I have so many reminders and alarms (hard to hear) to remind me to take the new additional pill. Ummm.

I am going to adaptive PE three times a week and taking part in a Mock PT clinic on Thursdays at the state university. The PT students get practical on hands experience and we MS peeps get free PT – works for me. My friend Toni picks me up and we go together. At least there are two of us in the car as we circle and circle the parking area near where we all meet. We lucked out last time and found a space right out in front of the hall. the time before we ended up in no mans land. Now if we end up way out there one of the students will park and retrieve her car – nice.

I am noticing that many of same group people show up to the adaptive PE classes at the community college and programs like the one at the university. I am not sure if it is because they are aware of the programs via word of mouth or if we are a group that is determined to do all that we can do to help ourselves?